“Lungu is desperate” FDD condemns M’membe’s arrest

As the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) we wish to strongly condemn the arrest of Mr. Fred M’membe, the Post Editor-in-Chief and reporter Mukosha Funga over the letter that the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) Director Rosewin Wandi wrote to President Edgar Lungu, notifying him that they were investigating his Political Advisor, Kaizer Zulu for Corruption.

The action by the Police is a desperate and discreditable attempt by President Edgar Lungu and his Government to muzzle the Post Newspapers and silence anyone who dares expose the rot that is going on in this Government.

Why should a letter about an ordinary employee of Government be classified as a State Secret? Why should Kaizer Zulu, a mere employee of Government who is being paid by taxpayers’ money be treated as a demi-god who is not amenable to anyone? Why is Edgar Lungu shielding Kaizer Zulu, a simple state employee from public scrutiny?

On May 22, 2015, the Daily Nation Newspapers exclusively carried a story quoting Ms. Wandi’s second letter to President Edgar Lungu, under the headline: ACC Clears Kaizer Zulu; Why haven’t the Police arrested and charged Mr. Richard Sakala and the Daily Nation reporter for allegedly breaching section 35 of the State Security Act? Does it mean that Section 35 only applies to the Post Newspapers? Why are the Police exhibiting such deplorable double standards? This a clear case of witch hunting!

Intimidations, arrests, even killings will never cow the people from holding public officials accountable. This is a democracy and transparency and accountability are key tenets of any democratic society.
Instead of waisting time and government resources chasing after the Post Newspapers, Honourable Edgar Lungu should for once take his job of serving the people of Zambia seriously. He should focus on fixing the economy;ending load shedding; arresting the free fall of the Kwacha; reducing fuel prices, lowering the cost of living, opening of the Copperbelt University and fixing our healthcare system.
Issued by:
Antonio Mwanza,